Massive Catch Has Rings the Size of Truck Tires
By
RAY LILLEY
WELLINGTON,
New Zealand (Feb. 22) - A fishing crew has caught a colossal squid that
could weigh a half-ton and prove to be the biggest specimen ever landed,
a fisheries official said Thursday.
New
Zealand Ministry of Fisheries, AP
An
unidentified
colossal
squid that may be the biggest ever caught, at
an
estimated at 990 pounds and 36 feet long.
New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries, AP
Colossal
squid, which live in Antarctic waters, are not
related
to the giant squid found off
Tsunemi Kubodera, the
In
December, scientists released footage of a giant
squid
-- here attacking a bait squid -- that may be the
first
images of a live giant squid at the water's surface.
Tsunemi Kubodera, the
Scientists
captured that squid, which was 24 feet long, off
water,
above.
Researcher
Tsunemi Kubodera displays the creature,
which
died during its capture.
In
September 2005, scientists released the first known
footage
of this live giant squid in action. A remote-
control
camera filmed it off
David
McNew, Getty
In
January 2005, hundreds of giant squid -- each about
three
to four feet long -- washed ashore in one night at
The
squid, weighing an estimated 990 pounds and about 39 feet long, took two
hours to land in Antarctic waters, New Zealand Fisheries Minister Jim
Anderton said.
The fishermen were catching Patagonian toothfish, sold under the name
Chilean sea bass, south of New Zealand "and the squid was eating a
hooked toothfish when it was hauled from the deep," Anderton said.
The fishing crew and a fisheries official on board their ship estimated
the length and weight of the squid: Detailed, official measurements have
not been made. The date when the colossus was caught also was not
disclosed.
Colossal
squid, known by the scientific name Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, are
estimated to grow up to 46 feet long and have long been one of the most
mysterious creatures of the deep ocean.
If original estimates are correct, the squid would be 330 pounds heavier
than the next biggest specimen ever found.
"I can assure you that this is going to draw phenomenal interest. It
is truly amazing," said Dr. Steve O'Shea, a squid expert at the
Auckland University of Technology. If calamari rings were made from the
squid they would be the size of tractor tires, he added.
Colossal squid can descend to 6,500 feet and are extremely active,
aggressive hunters, he said.
The
frozen squid will be transported to
Marine scientists "will be very interested in this amazing creature
as it adds immeasurably to our understanding of the marine
environment," Anderton said.
Colossal squid are found in Antarctic waters and are not related to giant
squid found round the coast of
Copyright
2007 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report
may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed
without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active
hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.